Newly-released photos from the set of Hands Of Stone, currently filming in Panama, show the R&B singer with a mini fro and slimmer physique. According to reports, he was determined to make weight and drop from 180 pounds to the Leonard’s usual fighting weight of 146 pounds.

“What he did as a boxer is no different from what I do as a dancer…I train like an athlete every day, believe it or not,” the 35-year said in the November issue of Men’s Health. “My commitment to this character demands that I not only physically get ready, but also become him. The hair, the personality, the manner he conducts himself in—all that.”

“He had such incredible discipline and he was flashy and classy at the same time,” he told Billboard. “I want to be as passionate and dedicated in preparing for this role as he was every time he stepped into the ring.”

Usher showed off his hard work with this Instagram post on Friday. “Flexin Friday in Panama. URIV,” he wrote.

Real Usher fans will also notice that his signature tattoos are gone. Sources say filmmakers used makeup to cover up the ink. Check out another pic below and tell us your thoughts on his transformation in the comment section!